Lead pencil



J. B. MASON, JR.

LEAD PENCIL.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 30. 192|.

Patented Mar. 28, v1922 UNITED ySTATESl PATENTv oFFlcE.

JAMES'BRUCE MASON, Jn., oF NASHVILLE,- TENNESSEE LEAD PENCIL.

the kind in which the lead is contained with-A l the mechanism.

in a casing and is p-ropelled or fed when required through a suitable guide and through a lpointed end or nozzle inysuchmanner that the outer end of the lead may project .only a short distance beyond the tip of the noz# zle so that while sufficiently exposed for writing purposes, it is not apt to. break.

. Pencils of this general class have heretofore been provided with a magazine in which spare leads are stored in order that when one lead has been worn out or nearly worn out, another may automaticall be brought into working position. V,In -this class of pencils the lead in use has generally been propelled by` a pusher rod fedrforward by a screw threaded connection between the rod and the barrel or a tube within the barrel, and the construction has generally been such that before a fresh lead could be brought into position for use,- it has been necessary to slowly retract the pusher rod. Generally, also, the leads are delivered from the magazine by a rotary movement given tothe magazine by a spring.

The object of my p-resent invention is to simplify the construction of automatic or mechanical pencils, to render them more accurate in operation, and to provide means whereby the slow retractive movement of the pusher may be avoided.

In carrying out my invention, instead of providing a rotarymagazine If hold it in a fixed position and I associate with the magazine a feeder held under spring tension to movethe leads successively from the magazine into engagement with a pusher. While this arrangement of magazine and feeder is preferred and is claimed in other co-pend ing applications, the improvements herein `claimed may be used in connection with otherforms of magazines and feeders. I have radically departed from/the old way of propelling the lead from the tip of the pencil, and instead of propelling the lead by a pusher acting on the inner end of the lead, I provide devices which grasp the lead while in working position, feed it forward Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mali', v2S, 1922,

Application led April 30, 1921. Serial No, 465,660.

vto a limited extent, then retract, take a new hold on the lead, and again feed it forward. The manner in which this' is done will be hereinafter explained.

`In the accompanying drawings Figure l shows a longitudinal central section of a mechanical or automatic pencil embodying my improvements.

Figure 2'is a perspective view of part of Figures 3, 4, and 5 are views on enlarged scales and inf'section on the line 3 3, 4 4,

and 5-5 of Figure l.

yFigure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of .Figure 1 withwthe parts in a different position.

The barrel A of the pencil may be made of suitable metal or ,other material. It is provided with a point B, which is hollow and is detachably connected with the barrel at b. Within the tube is secured at o a hol low plug C which has a central threaded opening which receives the threaded end d of a guide tube D slotted at its lower end (Z2 as indicated in F'i re 1. This tube is formed with a kerf or slot d at .its inner end to receive a screw driver or similar tool byv means of which it may be driven into the block C. By adjusting the tube it ma'y be made to grip the lead V more or less tightly. It will be observed that the lower end of the tube bears against the inner walls of the point. The oppositel end of the barrel A carries a collar E formed with a shoulder e, on which rests a cap F` which is removable from the collar. The collar is free toI turn on the barrel, but it is secured by a screw thread at g to atube G which rotates in the barrel. The tube G contains within it a stick of erasive rubber G which iscovered and protected by the cap F. By turning the collar E, the tube G may also be turned and this tubeG has a slot and pin connection at. ei with'- the barrel A so that the tube may have a slight longitudinal and rotary movement in the barrel. The mechanism operated by the collar E and the tube G will be hereinafter described.

About midway between the ends of the barrel is secured'a partition L and below this partition is located Ithe magazine for spare leads and the feeder for the leads.

The partition L is held firmly the barrel A by a lug l on the barrel which engages a slot in the partition.

. It will be observed that the upper end p of the vtube G is slotted at g5 so that the rubber F is held tightly when the 'collar is screwed home,

The magazine,4 is formed in a tubeQ and in a space surrounding the tube. PThe tube Q has a central opening g in its middle por# tion of the shape shown in cross section in- 4, extends through the partition L and this tube contains the propelling rods P, P which feed the lead in use step-,by-step through the nozzle.

Associated with the tube Q is a lead feeder, comprising two rings r, r. connected by a rod S. The upper ring 7- is connected by a coiled spring T with the partition L: The feeder isf adapted to turn abgut the axis of the tube Q when the magazine is being filled and when a fresh lead is being moved into working position. This construction of 'magazine and feeder is not claimed herein as it is claimed in my application for patent filed April 30, 1920 No. 465,659. The manner inwhich leads are supplied to the magazine isr also more fully explained in said application 'and need `not be here repeated. It 1s sulicient to say that when the magazine is supplied with spare leads, as soon as a leadis worn out or nearly used up, a fresh lead is automatically brought into working position. The magazinetube Q, it will be observed, extends to a considerable extent above the partition L. In that portion above the partition, it is formed` with circular openings through which the upper ends of the propelling rods P, P extend. These portions of the rods which extend through theupper part N of thel tubular member are clrcular in cross section. The lower parts ofthe rods P,(P are segmental in cross section as shown in Figures 5 and 6 for a purpose hereinafter described. The upper portion N ofthe tube Q 1s surrounded by a sleeve WV whichis free to turn around the Vpart N'and to slide thereon. The'sleeve W is formed with a flange,

l w at its upper end to which is secured a coiled spring Q2, the opposite or' lower end of which is `secured at w to the partition L. Thlssprlng may be compressed and contracted so .as to allow the tube W to have a longltudinal movement and also a rotary movement. The rods P, Py extendy into a cylindrical block O which is secured-to the tube G so that when the tube G is reci Iroeated, the rods w111 also be reciprocate or block is turned. The upper portions of the rods P, P extend through a device X so constructed as to rotate or turn one ofthe rods, namely, P without turning the other. In other words the upper portion of the rod P issecured to the device X while the other rod 'P extends through a curved slot p in this device. The device X is formed Y with a lug as which enters a hole wz 'in an upwardly vprojecting arm 'w3 of the sleeve W and vthisarm w3 enters a slot g* in the 80 tube G. The manner in which these parts are assembled is shown in Figure 2.y

As before stated, .the lower portions f the rods P, P are not circular but are segmental in cross section, and the flat faces of the rods face each other in the manner shown in Figures 5 and 6. The two rods are arranged on opposite sides' of the central longitudinal axis lof the pencil, jfor permitting leads to be fed toward the center,

lbut -at the proper time the rod P" is soj turned as to grasp a lead in the magazine and when the rods are reciprocated the lead thus graspedl is fed forward (see Fig. 6).

The rods P, P grasp' the lead V when in 95' Working position in the manner shown in Figures l and 5. When itis desired to feed the lead .forward the collar E ispressed inwards and the rods P, P while grasping the lead are moved toward the point of the pencil and carry the lead with them. This movement of course is only a short one, being suiicient merely to project the lead lto the desired extent from the point of the Before releasing the collar, it is 105,-

pencil. given a slight turnl for the purpose'of causing the rod P to turn vand assume the position shown .in Figure 6, thus releasing the 'grip of the rods on ythe lead. Then the collar E is moved upwards or outwards without moving the lead and the rods assume their original position. Then the collar E is given a slight turn in the opposite direction from its initial 'turn and the rods are made to grasp the lead in the manner shown in Fig. '115 5, being then in a position for the next adjustment which may be performed by pressing the collar inwards or downwards as before explained.

X The mo-vements given ,to the mechanism are vert7 short but accomplish the purposes of the invention.

1 The fiange -w p with a recess y, This is for the purpose of permitting the sleeve-to pass the .lug Z when eing inserted .into the barrel. After the sleeve is thus inserted, the parts of the of the sleeve W is formed sleeve may be given aslight turn so that the slot y will be out of line with the lug l in the manner shewu' in Fig. 1f Th@ the, 130

' block O.

`llocked to the barrel in the manner shown in Fig. l, It will be observed that the rod P carries a collar p. This collar is -firmly attached to the rod and serves to hold the device X in proper relation with the It will thus be seenthat a lead may be fed or propelled through 4the point of the pencil without employing screw'threads and the movement for feedingthe lead is only a slight one. The parts may be retracted to feeding position very quickly and with slight movement. When filling the magazine, it is not necessary to retract the pusher rods out of the magazine as heretofore becauseby turning one of these rods, a free opening is left for the entrance ofthe leads, as indicated in Fig. 6.

It will be understood that the magazine is filled in the manner shown in my other co- Apending applications and therefore this feature of the pencil is not herein further illus'- trated or described.' It may besaid, however, that in order to fill the magazine, the point B is detached from the barrel andthe leads are inserted one at a time between the lip' Q and the feeder bar S. lThe feeder bar S being under spring tension, yields and permits the leads to be inserted in this way. Thereafter the feeder bar pressses all the leads toward the central part ofthe ma 'gazine claim as my invention: s

. l. A self-propelling lead pencil comprising a lead guide, armagazine for spare leads, means -.for feeding leads successively into A working' position in the magazine, and

means for pushing the lead through the uide comprising devices'for grasping thel ead, means for`pushingthe grasping devices toward the point of the 'pencil and away therefrom, and means for givingv Aa turning movement to a part of the grasping devices.4 for releasing said devices from the leadl while the' grasping devicesare being retracted.

2. A self-propelling lead encil compris- `king a guide for a lead, pus er rods which grasp thelead lwhile in working position, means for moving the ypusher rod towards and from the point of the pencil, and means for turning one of the"A rods to release the lead-from the grasp of the rodswhen the rods are being retracted.' v

l3. A self-propelling lead pencil comprising a lead guide, a magazine for spare leads, means for feeding leads successlvely into working position 1n the magazine, pusher y'ing a lead gui rods operating theimagazine having a short reciprocatlng movement therein and one of wh1ch has a turning movement, and

means- `for giving a short reciprocating '1 vmovement to the rods while still in the magazineand for giving to one of said rods a turning movement whereby a lead may be grasped between the two rods or released therefrom.

4. A self-propelling lead pencil comprising a barrel, a lead guide inthe barrel, pusher rods adapted to grasp a lead between them and which have flat opposing4 faces for engaging the lead, means for giving to the rods Ya short reciprocating movement, and devices for giving a turning movement to one of the rods.

'a tube within theA barrel, means for giving to thetube 'a short reciprocating movement anda short turning movement, pusher rods for grasping the lead between them, av sleeve surrounding the rods which is sprin -supported and which is adapted to move ongitudinally in the barrel, and also to turn therein, a pusher rod operating device connected with the sleeve' tol follow its move- A "ments, and connections between the pusher rod operating device and the operating tube.

7. self-propellin lead pencil comprising "a barrel, a lea guide in the barrel, pusher rodsl adapted to tween them, means for giving to the rods a short reciprocating movement, and devices forgiving a turning movement'to one of the rods.

8. A 'self-pro elling lead pencil comprisdie, pusher rods operating in the pencil having a short reciprocating movement therein and one of which has a tirning' movement, and means for giving a short reciprocating movement to the rods and for giving to one of said rods a turning movement whereby a lead may be grasped between the two rods or released therefrom. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JAMES BRUCE MASON, JR.

grasp the lead .be- 

